ARC Review: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Title: Pushing the Limits
Author: Katie McGarry
Publication Date: July 31st, 2012
Genre: YA - Contemporary Romance

"I won't tell anyone, Echo. I promise." Noah tucked a curl behind my ear. It had been so long since someone touched me like he did. Why did it have to be Noah Hutchins? His dark brown eyes shifted to my covered arms. "You didn't do that-did you? It was done to you?" No one ever asked that question. They stared. They whispered. They laughed. But they never asked.
So wrong for each other...and yet so right.
No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal. But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again." ~See it on Goodreads

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Okay, first off I just have to say, holy. freaking. WOW! Pushing the Limits has most definitely become one of my favorite reads of 2012 so far! I absolutely loved every single bit of it!

Pushing the Limits stands out from some of the more common types of YA Contemporary books because it deals with some real and difficult issues. It’s not one of those perfect scenarios where the girl and the guy seem to have no issues and their lives are fairly picturesque, Noah and Echo both deal with a lot of serious personal issues and it really gives you another perspective on what some people really go through in life.

I really liked Echo (how awesome is her name by the way?!), and I adored Noah! They had such an amazing connection and their chemistry together it was fantastic. Echo has so much pain and sadness inside after all she’s been through and even though she tries to feign normalcy it’s right there under the surface. But as she opens up throughout the story you get to know her and she’s a really likeable girl. Now Noah is definitely what you would classify as a “bad boy”, but honestly who doesn’t like that?? Lol. But that aside, Noah has so many layers and I loved how as the story went on you got to see and learn little more about him. Underneath his “bad boy” appearance he was such an endearing, and kindhearted person and he will forever be a favorite of mine.

The romance in this book was amazing to me. I love that it had time to build up and I’m so extremely glad it didn’t end up as some kind of unrealistic “insta-love” where everything is unicorns and rainbows and they have the “perfect” relationship right from the get go. Echo and Noah have to learn how to overcome the drama from their personal/family lives to be able to make their relationship work. The learn things about each other that they never saw before. And one thing I really liked so much was the fact that Echo and Noah didn’t try to change each other, they accept each other for who they are at that point and time but they still grow and change but not only do they grow individually, they grow together as well. I just love them together so much and some of the conversations they have *sigh* Love. It.

Not only did the author write two great main characters, all of the secondary characters were just as interesting. They didn’t fade into the background and end up being forgotten about, which sometimes happens in books. I was especially intrigued by Beth and Isaiah, and I absolutely freaking loved Mrs. Collins! If only there were more people like her in real life.

This book is definitely and emotional rollercoaster, I went from being angry, to overwhelmingly sad, to happy, and everything in between. It’s one of those books you not only read, but experience as well. As I said before this book immediately went to my favorites list. I highly recommend reading this book and I honestly can’t wait for the companion book where we’ll get to see Beth’s story! New favorite author? Umm I think so!

5 Stars!